Happy Birthday

...to the BEST Grandpop and Father in law I could ask for!

Vegas Snow

Woke up the other morning and it was snowing...

Kady said it was like magic!

Thankful

I'm thankful for my kids that forced me to become domestic.  To learn how to cook.  Who taught me how to nurture. That give me constant messes to clean up after and twice as much laundry.

Whom keep me young and carefree, creative and cautious, thoughtful and giving, honest and respectful,  caring and loving.

For the crusty food in their hair, the dirt under their  fingernails and the stains on their clothes. The scrapes on their knees, the bruises on their foreheads and the boogers in their nose.  These are signs of a healthy, happy kid and for that I am thankful.

They fill my days with amusement, wonder, stress, worry, doubt, innocence, laughter, smiles and fun.  They love me unconditionally.   They test my patience.   They warm my soul.  They melt my heart.

There is no greater responsibility or reward than raising a truly decent and kind human being.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to do so.

Because of them, I am a parent and teacher but most importantly a role model.  They are my heart walking around outside my body.  I'm thankful for every year, month, week, day, hour, minute I'm given to spend with them.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to always kiss them goodnight, even if they are already sleeping.  To tell them I love them every chance I get.

I'm thankful to God for so graciously trusting me with two precious, beautiful gifts wrapped up in the form of tiny humans!   I will never raise a hand to my children (After all that just leaves the groin unprotected :).   I promise to lead by example and to not handicap them by making their lives easy.  I will give them problems to solve, not answers to remember.   I shall never forget that simply HAVING kids does not make me a mother.  I will continue to be humbled every time my children occasionally, and politely, put me  in my place.

Kadence and Zoe....this Thanksgiving I'm BEYOND thankful for you.  The ride has been thrilling.  Last but not least, I'm thankful for an amazing husband that with out these little wonders would never have been created.  Thank you for making my world complete.   I love you!

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back."  ~William D. Tammeus

Zoe Talk

I wish I could box up and keep the sound of her cute little voice forever.


"Me Mouse"....clearly is "Mini Mouse"
"Muk"....stands for "Milk"
"Jew"....although a correct word, in Zoe talk it's "Juice"
"Ah Pooht"....Thank you kid, it means "I pooped"
"Muckles" ....means "Knuckles" aka fist bump and she'll give you some as well
"Hi Fis" ....is "Hi- Five"
"How-ween" ...."Halloween"
"Kissmas" ...."Christmas"

Happy Birthday

....to a wonderful Brother-in-law & Veteran!

Thank you for being so wonderful to my sister and loving 
our crazy family!!

Happy Veteran's Day

Nightmare Revisited

"Soon we'll hang stockings by the chimney with 

dread while visions of pumpkins 

swirl in our heads"

A Witch and a Gladiator 

 

Skeleton Man

 

RedRum

 

 

Our fabulous hosts -- Jack Skelington and Sexy Sally

It was so great being able to help with ideas for this party and be able to attend.  My friend Ashlee and I have been talking about doing something like this for about 3 years now.  To see it come to life and be such a fun success was really great.

Now only 49 days to X-mas....yeah!

It's best I start planning for the busy season.  The countdown has begun.

 

Madame Mevelyn  

I had my cards read, fortune, whatever you call it.  It was my first experience ever and a good one.  I don't really believe in all that kind of stuff although I do believe in spirits, 6th senses what not.  Either way, she wasn't far off and I find it extremely fascinating.

 

 Our friend held a Nightmare Before Christmas party.  A super neat idea.  She had her black Christmas tree up, decorated with Halloween ornaments topped with a Santa hat.  All the pumpkins wore Santa hats as well along with the creepy skeleton in the bathtub.  Her stocking was hung by the chimney with a spider dangling from it.  The house looked great and we had a lot of fun.  I really wanted to get a Santa outfit for Dominic to wear but there wasn't enough time.  Maybe next year...

 

I made these little guys and brought them to the party.  Aren't they adorable?

 

 

Picture of the Day

Sisterly Love

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Cheater

Kady's Pirate pumpkin or as Zoe says "Pi-yet! Arr, Ar!"

Zoe's Cowboy pumpkin or as she says "eee-Ahhh!"

Before you judge on our lack of carved pumpkins, I must say it's hard to do such solo with two youngsters!  Dom had to work so I opted for Potato Head pieces in lieu of  chasing Zoe around with a knife in my hand!  I think they look great and we can use them again next year.  I liked the idea.

A Spooktacular Night

Kadence our Pirate Princess

Kady the Pirate Princess...Arrgh and one of her best friends Aubrie as Repunzel

Kadence and friends at King's Faire at our church.   A super fun and SUPER cheap event.  Another chance to dress the kids up in costume, play games, trick or treat and bounce in the bouncy castles.

What makes a Pirate Princes? Lots of ribbon, bows and jewelry.  Thank you to my mother-in-law for sending a bunch of gold necklaces that went perfectly with her costume.  It wasn't planned but worked out great!

My bug and I

Zoe the Little Witch

 

"If the shoe fits" and indeed it does :)

Feed the Little Witch some candy.  For weeks we practiced getting her to say "trick or treat"  which she can say clear enough.  She forgot to say it at almost every house and instead put her hand out for candy.  She would manage to say "please and thank you" though...I'll take that.

The Little Witch running a muck at Kings Faire. I really need a leash for this kid.

Why knock when it makes more sense to try and open the door yourself first.

One last picture of our Little Witch!  If you look closely you will see the tail end of her tutu as she barges past the poor lady and into her houses.  She managed to run inside a total of 5 houses and knocked on one garage door.  Overall, a successful Halloween.

From our family to yours, we hope you had a spooktacular night as well.  Happy Haunting!

Happy Birthday

.....to my wonderful husband!!!

My Husband.

My Protector

My Bestfriend

My Lover

My Provider

The most valuable gift-
My husband has given me;
Are my 2 wonderful and the best kids-
And I thank God,
For the wonderful family he has given me.

Gilcrease Orchard

 

Eat . Sleep . Run . Repeat

or is it... Eat . Sleep? Drive . Repeat


188 Miles

30 Hours

12 Feet

6 People

1 RV...

This, was our RAGNAR Relay Ultra Las Vegas 2011 experience.....

 Dear Team Cereal Killa's, 

There are few words that can describe the insane amount of fun I had running this race with you all.  I think we had one bad a$$ crew and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and getting to know each and every one of you during the grueling, intimate time we had in such close quarters.  Thank you for all the amazing memories that I will cherish forever. I'm STOKED to race it next year and HOPE to have the 5 of you (and the toenail lost) join me for  Ragnar 2012.  Until then, happy running....

Sincerely, 

TRIX the Rabbit

Age of Chivalry

Last weekend we took the girls to the Las Vegas Renaissance Fair.  It was also our first time attending.  I had no clue what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.  I definitely have an appreciation for that era and find the artsy side of it all fascinating.  I look forward to going back next year and hope that it's at Sunset Park where is has been in the years past.

We experienced the likes of royal parades, one-act Shakespearean plays, full contact jousting tournaments, no holds barred gladiator battles, strolling minstrels, sheep herding exhibitions, a fire breathing dragon, magicians, storytellers, comedians, jugglers, flame eaters, black smith forging demonstrations, singers and belly dancers and a variety of entertainers.   Some of the Guild's and costumes were out of this world.  Truly Renaissance and truly amazing!


GUILD

FAIRIES...of course Kady fell in love with this pair.  They told her they would come to visit when she lost her first tooth.

Pirate Parrot Show...Zoe was fascinated with all these birds as was I.  They would land on your arm if you were holding a $1 bill, grab it and fly up to the stage and place it in the tip jar.  Needless to say this pirate scored a few bucks from us.

Queen.....We searched and searched until we could find a queen.  Needless to say we found the queen and her entire family.  They were gracious and kind.  You wouldn't believe the detailing in these costumes. Gorgeous! 

 

 Human Tree...this costume was out of this world. To be able to walk on stilts in an outfit like this in 90* takes dedication  and skill.

ALL SMILES....a seat to enjoy the sights and a Snow Cone for the road.  It's Fall right?

"The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not uniform across Europe, this is a general use of the term. As a cultural movement, it encompassed a flowering of literature, science, art, religion, and politics, and a resurgence of learning based on classical sources, the development of linear perspective in painting, and gradual but widespread educational reform. Traditionally, this intellectual transformation has resulted in the Renaissance being viewed as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern era. Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, as well as social and political upheaval, it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who inspired the term "Renaissance man".
There is a consensus the Renaissance began in Florence, Tuscany in the 14th century. Various theories have been proposed to account for its origins and characteristics, focusing on a variety of factors including the social and civic peculiarities of Florence at the time; its political structure; the patronage of its dominant family, the Medici.

The Renaissance has a long and complex historiography, and there has been much debate among historians as to the usefulness of Renaissance as a term and as a historical delineation. Some have called into question whether the Renaissance was a cultural "advance" from the Middle Ages, instead seeing it as a period of pessimism and nostalgia for the classical age, while others have instead focused on the continuity between the two eras. Indeed, some have called for an end to the use of the term, which they see as a product of presentism – the use of history to validate and glorify modern ideals. The word Renaissance has also been used to describe other historical and cultural movements, such as the Carolingian Renaissance and the Renaissance of the 12th century."